MURRIETA — A 33-year-old Lake Elsinore man has been charged with murder in the fatal shooting of a local resident earlier this week, authorities said.
Deputies responded about 7:40 p.m. Sunday to the 28000 block of Wells Fargo Lane, where they found 38-year-old Brian Rivas suffering from a gunshot wound, according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department. Despite life-saving efforts by paramedics, Rivas died at the scene.
Homicide detectives identified the suspect as Steven Saul Vargas of Lake Elsinore. With help from the department’s Major Crimes Unit, investigators arrested Vargas on Sept. 17 in Riverside and booked him into the Cois Byrd Detention Center on suspicion of murder.
On Friday, Vargas appeared before a Riverside County Superior Court judge in Murrieta, where he was assigned a public defender. He faces murder charges with firearm and great bodily injury enhancements. His arraignment is scheduled for Monday. Bail has been set at $2 million.
Authorities said the confrontation that led to the shooting remains under investigation.
The Sheriff’s Department asked anyone with information to contact Central Homicide Unit Investigator Newby at (951) 955-2777 or Lake Elsinore Station Investigator Contreras at (951) 245-3300.
Source: Riverside County Sheriff’s Department
